Washington DC
SELECT CHANGE
PLAN YOUR TRIP
As one of the busiest train stations in the world and headquarters to Amtrak, Union Station in Washington DC is home to an abundance of shops, restaurants, entertainment venues and more. Its location in the center of downtown DC makes it an ideal starting point for touring the city’s many historical sites, attractions and other activities.
Union Station is just the beginning! A venture to these other Washington DC sights and attractions will make for the ultimate travel experience.
A Must-See Landmark
The spectacular Union Station was originally designed to be the gateway to the city and since it opened over 90 years ago, has become the most visited site in DC. Its unique architecture makes it popular for photos. Locals, tourists and even Presidents make it a point to visit this magnificent historic mall and train station.
Double Levels, Double Excitement
Two levels feature over one hundred fabulous stores and offer shopping of every kind, from clothing to jewelry, gifts, toys, souvenirs and more. Snacks, treats and casual meals are available in the food court and several other restaurants provide delicious international fare. There’s also a nine-screen, state-of-the-art cinema on the lower level. Various cultural events and exhibits are held at Union Station throughout the year, attracting guests from around the globe. With more than 25 million people stopping in to browse, shop or just experience the excitement at Union Station each year, it still acts as the gateway to our nation’s capital.
Old Town Trolley Tour
- Hop On Hop Off at 15 Stops near the National Mall
- Celebrating 40 Years as Washington DC's Original Storyteller!
- Fully Narrated 90 Minute Tour
- Best Views with Stadium Seating
- Real-Time Trolley Tracking Map
- Cushioned Seating
- Stories Narrated by Local Experts
- Smart-Sync Historic Visuals
- Tallest Vehicles Allowed by Law
- Free WiFi
- 100+ Points of Interest
- American Owned and Operated
- All Weather Vehicles
- Start at Any Designated Stop
- “One of the 10 best hop-on hop-off tours in the world” - Forbes
- Top Rated Tour by Washington Post
- Free Additional DC Guides
ENJOY A NIGHT OF MOONLIGHT MERRIMENT
Experience the beauty and awe of our country’s most stirring monuments in a whole new way… by moonlight.
- See the National Mall Monuments at Night
- Stops at 6 of DC’s Iconic Memorials
- Includes the Lincoln Memorial, FDR Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, & More
- Scenic Photo Opportunities
- Stories Narrated by Local Experts
- Fully Narrated 2.5 Hour Tour
- Best Views with Stadium Seating
- Flexible Start and End Points
Save up
to 13%
to 13%
SEE THE BEST OF DC & ARLINGTON
- Includes Tickets for the Hop On Hop Off DC Tour & the Arlington National Cemetery Tour
- Celebrating 40 Years as Washington DC's Original Storyteller!
- Save 50%* on the Arlington Tour
- The Best Package for American History Enthusiasts
- Easy Transfer to Arlington
- Tours Can Be Taken on Different Days
- Old Town Trolley Hop On Hop Off Tour Details
- Hop On Hop Off at 15 Stops near the National Mall
- Fully Narrated 90 Minute Tour
- Best Views with Stadium Seating
- Real-Time Trolley Tracking Map
- Cushioned Seating
- Stories Narrated by Local Experts
- Smart-Sync Historic Visuals
- Tallest Vehicles Allowed by Law
- Free WiFi
- 100+ Points of Interest
- American Owned and Operated
- All Weather Vehicles
- Start at Any Designated Stop
- “One of the 10 best hop-on hop-off tours in the world” - Forbes
- Top Rated Tour by Washington Post
- Free Additional DC Guides
- Arlington National Cemetery Tour Details
- The Only Official Tour of the Arlington National Cemetery
- Hop On Hop Off at 7 stops on weekdays and 8 stops on weekends Across 3+ Miles
- Visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
- Tours Every 30 Minutes
- Stories Narrated by Local Experts
- Visit Notable Graves and Memorials
- Comfortable Vehicles
Things To Do Nearby
Smithsonian National Postal Museum
Journey back to the days of the Pony Express and see first-hand how the mail was delivered in colonial America, through times of war and into the present day. At the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, visitors learn about the amazing history of the American postal service and how it evolved to become what it is today. Located on the lower level of the old Post Office Building just next door to Union Station, the building was constructed in 1914 and served as the Washington DC post office until 1986. Today, visitors from around the world come to learn about the role the postal service has played in shaping our country.
Six galleries offer interactive, engaging exhibits including three airmail planes flying overhead, a railway car and a stagecoach. Thousands of stamps, postal artifacts and historic displays are also a main attraction. And if that’s not enough, there’s a museum shop and stamp store. Explore, discover and admire the significant lifeline of our nation’s postal service; it’s a memorable stop during your visit to Washington DC.
Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum
People of all ages get a special thrill when they visit the renowned Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum. As the biggest of all the Smithsonian Museums, you can view the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world. There are more than 60,000 objects including rockets and jetliners, gliders, spacesuits, space helmets and much more. From massive aircraft to tiny microchips, many of the items you’ll see are one-of-a-kind and associated with a momentous milestone in aviation history.
National Gallery of Art
For art enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys viewing masterpieces, this art museum is a must-do while you’re close by. The collection encompasses everything from paintings and drawings to prints, photographs, sculpture, medals and decorative arts. Visitors can even browse works from the Middle Ages to the present. Here, you’ll also have the opportunity to view the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the Americas.
Monuments by Moonlight
The Monuments by Moonlight Tour transports visitors to the most iconic landmarks of the city under the enchanting night sky. A unique way to view many of the most popular monuments in DC, this special tour takes place at sunset and departs from Washington Welcome Center. On board, you’ll see the Iwo Jima Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, Korean War Memorial and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial. Your on-board guide will share some of the fascinating history of the sights you’re seeing as well as the city of Washington DC. Enjoy lighthearted historic tales about the Curse of the Hope Diamond and more as you travel down the same streets that American Presidents, dignitaries and world leaders have also traveled.
International Spy Museum
Less than a mile from Union Station, the International Spy Museum is the only museum of its kind in the USA and an extraordinary way to spend a few hours while in DC. Here, you can learn the intriguing history of spying and espionage and see a vast collection of spy gadgets, weapons and artifacts, many of which are being seen by the public for the first time. Explore this unique museum and enjoy interactive exhibits as well as discovering fascinating facts about some of the world’s most famous, and infamous, spies.
National Portrait Gallery
A part of the Smithsonian Institution, the National Portrait Gallery features the country’s only complete collection of presidential portraits besides the White House. Among its exhibits and collections, you’ll have the opportunity to view an array of remarkable art pieces that include busts, paintings and drawings that portray the people who have made and are making an indelible impression on the United States of America. Located within the Old Patent Office Building, the museum is just a short walk from Union Station.
Supreme Court of the United States
An iconic structure that symbolizes freedom and justice in the USA, the Supreme Court was built in 1935 and heard its first case in October of that same year. An architectural masterpiece, the building itself is something not to be missed. Inside, you’ll wonder at its ornamental design marble staircases and various art pieces including a statue of John Marshall and busts of Supreme Court justices. Visitors are able to take self-guided tours of the building and sit in on a court session.
Washington DC Old Town Trolley Tour
Old Town Trolley is a convenient way to explore Union Station while maximizing vacation time. Let us guide you around Washington DC, where you can see many attractions, such as Union Station, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, or the International Spy Museum. With stops throughout Washington DC, you can hop on and off at the sites you want to visit and learn more about the rest during our fully narrated historic sightseeing tour. Find the lowest price and money-saying packages by purchasing tickets direct through our website.
Video loading
Old Town Trolley Tour
- Hop On Hop Off at 15 Stops near the National Mall
- Celebrating 40 Years as Washington DC's Original Storyteller!
- Fully Narrated 90 Minute Tour
- Best Views with Stadium Seating
- Real-Time Trolley Tracking Map
- Cushioned Seating
- Stories Narrated by Local Experts
- Smart-Sync Historic Visuals
- Tallest Vehicles Allowed by Law
- Free WiFi
- 100+ Points of Interest
- American Owned and Operated
- All Weather Vehicles
- Start at Any Designated Stop
- “One of the 10 best hop-on hop-off tours in the world” - Forbes
- Top Rated Tour by Washington Post
- Free Additional DC Guides
ENJOY A NIGHT OF MOONLIGHT MERRIMENT
Experience the beauty and awe of our country’s most stirring monuments in a whole new way… by moonlight.
- See the National Mall Monuments at Night
- Stops at 6 of DC’s Iconic Memorials
- Includes the Lincoln Memorial, FDR Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, & More
- Scenic Photo Opportunities
- Stories Narrated by Local Experts
- Fully Narrated 2.5 Hour Tour
- Best Views with Stadium Seating
- Flexible Start and End Points
Save up
to 13%
to 13%
SEE THE BEST OF DC & ARLINGTON
- Includes Tickets for the Hop On Hop Off DC Tour & the Arlington National Cemetery Tour
- Celebrating 40 Years as Washington DC's Original Storyteller!
- Save 50%* on the Arlington Tour
- The Best Package for American History Enthusiasts
- Easy Transfer to Arlington
- Tours Can Be Taken on Different Days
- Old Town Trolley Hop On Hop Off Tour Details
- Hop On Hop Off at 15 Stops near the National Mall
- Fully Narrated 90 Minute Tour
- Best Views with Stadium Seating
- Real-Time Trolley Tracking Map
- Cushioned Seating
- Stories Narrated by Local Experts
- Smart-Sync Historic Visuals
- Tallest Vehicles Allowed by Law
- Free WiFi
- 100+ Points of Interest
- American Owned and Operated
- All Weather Vehicles
- Start at Any Designated Stop
- “One of the 10 best hop-on hop-off tours in the world” - Forbes
- Top Rated Tour by Washington Post
- Free Additional DC Guides
- Arlington National Cemetery Tour Details
- The Only Official Tour of the Arlington National Cemetery
- Hop On Hop Off at 7 stops on weekdays and 8 stops on weekends Across 3+ Miles
- Visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
- Tours Every 30 Minutes
- Stories Narrated by Local Experts
- Visit Notable Graves and Memorials
- Comfortable Vehicles
FAQs
Inside Union Station, you can explore over 100 retail stores, dine at a diverse international food court or sit-down restaurants, catch a movie at the lower-level cinema, and marvel at the grand, historic 1907 architecture while watching Amtrak, MARC, and VRE trains arrive and depart.
Most nearby public spots, like the Smithsonian National Postal Museum and National Gallery of Art, offer free admission (though some require free timed-entry passes). However, private options like the International Spy Museum require paid admission tickets purchased in advance or at the door.
Yes! The popular Monuments by Moonlight Tour departs nearby and takes you to famous landmarks like the Lincoln, FDR, and Iwo Jima memorials under the stars. Your guide shares entertaining historic stories and local folklore along the route for an unforgettable evening sightseeing experience.
Within a 10-to-15 minute walk from Union Station, you can explore the US Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian National Postal Museum right next door. It serves as an ideal starting hub for walking tours around Capitol Hill and the eastern National Mall.
No advance booking or formal tour ticket is required. The Supreme Court building is open to the public free of charge on weekdays. Visitors can take self-guided tours of the public spaces, view historical exhibits, or sit in on court sessions when the justices are hearing active oral arguments.